2006 Honda Ridgeline Review

If you were to ask the truck manufacturers: What differentiates pickup owners today from traditional buyers a decade ago? They will tell you the importance of form has grown more than function.

Meaning? These days, stylish looks and comfort can count for more than additional towing capacity and off-road prowess. It is a sad statement of fact for the pickup tradionalist who yearns for the image of the cowboy hauling hay across the tundra or yanking stumps out of mud bogs.


The good news for the new age cowboy, the rough hewn type than still shuns the SUV as a glorified people mover, is they can still have the raw utility of the pickup with the comfort and style of a sedan.

Every inch of the Honda Ridgeline delivers form and function. Perfect for week-day commutes, but capable of easily switching into weekend adventure mode, the Ridgeline is up the ugliest and downright dirtiest tasks. I really enjoyed the full-size interior feel and the creature comforts which have become more common on upscale pickups.

I tested the premium RTL edition which retailed at $34,640. There is a base RT and mid-line RTS beginning at ($27,700). I think each model offers up a wonderful selection of standard and enticing optional features.

Honestly, I was not initially a fan of the Ridgeline exterior design. While I do admire the design direction pickups across this class have gone, maybe it was a bit of tradionalist in me fighting back – but to no avail. After just a few days, and a load of compliments from strangers, I found myself coming around to the Ridgeline design.

The Ridgeline designers went against the grain on several exterior cues – and it worked. A bold blend of raw pickup and sleek lines, Ridgeline avoided the trendy over-the-top grille treatment in favor of subtle slats. The real attitude comes from flared wheel wells and edgy fenders as well as the giant headlamps that peer out from the raised center hood.

One cue, arguably the most distinctive, yet familiar exterior touch (i.e. Chevy Avalanche), comes from the paneled rear bed pillars which distinctly slant from the cabin roofline to the bed rails. I like this streamlined look and it easily helps define the Ridgeline as a modern pickup.

Power comes from a dependable 3.5-liter SOHC VTEC V6 engine (255 hp, 252 lbs.-ft. of torque) paired with a smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic transmission. Power is sent to a standard, full-time 4WD system which sends torque as needed between the front and rear wheels.

The 5-passenger cabin is roomy. Seating is firm and comfortable whether around town or on the highway. I particularly appreciated the more refined metallic-wrapped knobs and accents. My RTL tester was fitted with lush leather upholstery, heated and providing power lumbar supports up front. Ridgeline offers front side airbags and side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor.

Of all the ‘function’ elements of the Ridgeline, I found the greatest use in the back, in storage and with the tailgate. The tailgate offers dual-action: hinged at the bottom for traditional dropping and hinged on the left side, allowing it to swing open. There is a huge concealed storage compartment in the floor. On a weekend ski trip I was easily able to fit two full-size coolers and a duffel bag inside.

The Honda Ridgeline is so good at being rough and resilient that you can easily overlook the creature comforts and sophistication inside. But overlooking this pickup would be a mistake.